Broadband top priority for regional development and health
Deputy chair of the National Rural Health Alliance, Kathy Kirkpatrick, says it is important for rural businesses, education, local government, employment opportunities and – not least – health, to have high speed broadband available at the same price for all Australians.
“In fact, it is important that broadband reaches out to rural and remote towns and communities first, so that those who stand to benefit the most get the support first,” she said.
“In these places, high speed broadband would provide the opportunities taken for granted by many in urban areas to do business, study, administer local government, reduce the need to travel, and to send and receive vital information. The earliest possible access to new technologies is critical if rural and remote Australia is to develop and prosper, in the interests of all Australians.
“For health services high speed broadband is especially valuable, allowing health consultations to be made in real time and enabling urgent specialist advice to rural and remote areas, often in emergency and other critical situations. This is not possible with dial-up because of the associated unreliability and bandwidth problems.
“This capacity for e-health is fundamental to improved health outcomes in the bush in so many ways – and the opportunities to use the technology and to provide health services in the most efficient way are boundless.
“Broadband is not just about consultations. Technology exists for monitoring a patient or an aged person in their home, yet connections in the bush are not yet reliable or fast enough for that to occur.
“Broadband is also essential to attract and retain health professionals in the bush. Continuing professional development programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals through interactive Internet are becoming increasingly important, but these are not useful if you’re in a remote location without reliable Internet access.
“Rural health students, the professionals of the future, say they simply don’t want to go to the bush unless they know they can maintain internet contact with their professional and personal support networks, as well as enjoy all the other benefits of the internet available in the city,” Dr Kirkpatrick said.
